Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-08-06

her hands and tore away the dress from
the slender neck. Then he put his ear
down to her face and found that she was
breathing family, IN Short quick gasps-
1t was an embarrassing situation.
/ The night SO dark that lie could not see
the senseless girl at his feet On one side
the high cliffs and on the other the sea run-
ming IN on high tide threatening to cut
on retreat by way Of the beach
here was only one chance and he would
take It. He must hurry back to the path
way by which he bad descended from the
road and secure help from The cottage
which he knew 10 be q few rods back from
tbs cliff at that point.
He kissed the cold, wet lips, and started
on. In ten minutes he was at the cottage.
| While waiting for the man he found there
to light a lantern, he noticed that his hand
held a miniature portrait In setting OF
diamonds. he must have torn It from
/ Mlldreds neck when he loosened her dress,
for there was a fragment Of silk thread at
tached TO it.
Unconsciously, almost, he looked at the
| pOrtruiI,-it was Walter Rockwell! He
had completely forgotten the existence or
such person during the excitement OF the
last half hour but even at such time as
| this the dIstastetul fact OF his engagement
/ to Mildred must be forced upon him.
| well, no matter" thought Dick, 4 must
save her for him"
Ten minutes more and Mildred was
! being carried back TO the cottage on a
/ hastily imprOvissd stretcher. When they
reached the cottage the mans wife was IN
/ waiting with dry clothing and warm drinks
| And then, for the first time, Dick saw that
/ the girl he had found on the shore lras MT
/ Mildred at ALL
And vet the stranger was so wonderfully
| like Mildred IN height and hgure,as we'll as
I the shape of her head, that u Was no Won
l der Dick Ryder had been mistaken. The
/ old lady took absolute charge of the
/ stranger and Dick, after promising to call
I IN the morning. hurried on to Red Shell
| Bay.
/ Early in the morning he was up to the
| Ireyors' cottage, where he found Mildred
perfectly well, and wondering why he had
not been to see her on the previous even
| ing. OF course he had 10 narrate his ad-
venture, which lie did with much mOdesty,
not mentioning the Hiss he had bestowed
upon the stranger.)
| Mildred insisted upon ACCOMPANYING him
/ to the cottage, and together they set out
| in a carriage which Dick had IN waiting.
/ They learned that the girl had quite Te-
/ covered from the effects of her mishap, and
| half an hour after their arrival she appeared
on the porch in a bright dress that Mildred
had brought for her use. The two girls
were so much alike that they would easily
have passed for twin sisters. The stranger
/ spoke first:
Mr. Mr." (~Ryder. suggested Dielz,)
| Mr. Ryder, how can I thank you?
I came down from New York on the
night train, and yesterday morning started
out 10 walk from Dorbyville station to Red
! Shell Bay. / thought that 1 could easily
walk ten miles, but / lost my way, and, as
YOU know, by sunset I was still some dis
lance from my destination. / was so weary
and SO frightened when the thick darkness
gathered with such rapidly that, when
that fearful fash Of lightning came, fol-
lowed by the heavy thunder, I tainted.
Then i felt the water rushing over me and
l recovered sufficiently to drag myself a
little higher up the beach. After that /
tainted again and knew no more until
awOke this morning. 1 must have been a
great deal Of trouble to yOus and 1 cannot
thank you properly"
Dick murmured something about "a
| pleasure" ETC., etc.
@By the way" resumed the young lady,
81 have missed q miniature painting which
I value highly 1 thought it Just possible
/ that you might have found it-a portrait
| of my husband"
Dick was astOnished, but admirably sup
! pressed his surprise. Nay, more, he was
even capable of connecting a small
scheme.
81 did, 4" said ne, accidentally take this
miniature from you last night. 1t is an
| exquisite little thing-yOu will not mind
/ Miss Trevor seeing ltI" and he passed the
| trinket to Mildred.
And now Dick thought he was about to
have another fainting girl on his hands,
but AIildreds pride carried her through.
| She quietly admired the miniature and
handed 1t to its owner.
L am lately from England, explained
the stranger, land learning that my hus-
band was at Red Shell Bay, thought ]
would take him by surprise. His name is
Rockwell"
Dick felt that he and Mildred had stayed
long enough. So he suggested that Mrs.
Rockwell rest until The afternoon, when he
would call for her. He and Mildred drove
back to the village-and a very silent drive
il was.
When Dick returned to the cottage fol
Mrs. Rockwell she was gone. She had
been driven over to Derbyville and had re-
turned to New York. Dick and Mildred
never saw her again, nor Walter Rockwell
either.
That evening, which was quiet and fair,
Dick and Mildred strolled along the sands
Very near to the SPOT where be found
Mrs. Rockwell Dick whispered to his love
you Will not let any one else come be-
tween US, viii YOU, dear?"
| For an answer Mildred kissed him.
Nothing was then or since said of the
letter Thich had troubled Dick. Arm il
arm they strolled back along the shore
and they have walked, arm In arm, along
the sands Of lime. ever since.